On Pine Mountain Road (U.S. 421) at Little Shepard Trail (County Route 1679), on the right when traveling north on Pine Mountain Road.
Little Shepherd Trail, part of setting for: Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, Hell for Sartain, Trail of the Lonesome Pine, by John Fox, Jr., famous for eleven novels of Ky. mountains and the Bluegrass, written 1893 to 1919. Born Paris, Ky., 1863. . . . — — Map (db m181400) HM
On State Highway 6, 0.3 miles east of Maggard Street, on the right when traveling east.
Principal of the East Benham High School, 1934-60. Matthews taught math and coached ball teams. The students were children of employees of Wisconsin Steel Company. Joseph Matthews and his wife Ruth were leaders in black community and bought food, . . . — — Map (db m97118) HM
On Kentucky Route 3001, 0.1 miles north of U.S. 421, on the left when traveling west.
This area important passageway for Union and Confederate forces. USA moved along Poor Fork and CSA along Clover Fork of Cumberland River, each route reflected local sentiment. Feb. 1862 USA forces under Brig. Gen. T. T. Garrard, grandson of Ky.'s . . . — — Map (db m181558) HM
On South 2nd Street just north of East Clover Street, on the left when traveling north.
Harlan County is made up of 6 cities and each one is unique in its own right.
Benham
Benham was formerly a coal camp that was built by some major coal mining companies. It was incorporated in 1961. At one point, this town was booming . . . — — Map (db m181399) HM
On East Central Street at South 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west on East Central Street.
For Major Silas Harlan, born Va., 1752, came to Ky. in 1774. Built Harlan's Station, 7 miles south of Harrodsburg on Salt River, 1778. Commanded spies, 1779, in Illinois campaign of Gen. George R. Clark, who said: "He was one of bravest soldiers . . . — — Map (db m181164) HM
On East Central Street west of South 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west.
Twenty-two Kentucky courthouses were burned during Civil War, nineteen in last fifteen months: twelve by Confederates, eight by guerrillas, two by Union accident. See map on reverse side.
The courthouse at Harlan was burned in reprisal for . . . — — Map (db m181165) HM
On East Central Street just west of North 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west.
Harlan County has had many claims to fame over the years and people across the world have heard of Bloody Harlan or watched as Harlan was put on the small screen in FX's Justified. However, our county has also seen it's share of notable people, . . . — — Map (db m181324) HM
On East Central Street at South 1st Street, on the left when traveling west on East Central Street.
Dedicated to the people by the Harlan Mining Institute and the City of Harlan in commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the shipment of the First Car of Coal from Harlan County August 23, 1911. — — Map (db m181571) HM
On East Clover Street, on the right when traveling east.
Harlan was first called Mount Pleasant. The town is situated in the valley between Big and Little Black Mountain, at the confluence of the three forks of the Upper Cumberland River. It is located at the junctions of two important highways, U.S. 421 . . . — — Map (db m181174) HM
On East Clover Street east of South 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east.
A Boy Scout troop was organized by Will Ward Duffield and chartered by the National BSA Council on June 20, 1912 at the First Presbyterian Church of Harlan. The troop's first camping trip was featured in Boy's Life. 100 years of scouting Harlan was . . . — — Map (db m181326) HM
On East Central Street just west of South 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west.
Dedicated to the memory of the valiant sons of Harlan County
World War 1917-1918
Willie Bevins •
Dillard McKnight •
Harold Brandenburg •
Hiram Middleton •
Harrison Brock •
John Michell •
Joseph Brock •
Pay Murphy • . . . — — Map (db m181566) WM
On East Clover Street just east of South Main Street (Kentucky Route 72), on the right when traveling east.
The first settlers of Harlan County were the family of Samuel Howard (then spelled Hoard). When they first set foot on Harlan soil in 1796 they found an almost impenetrable forest interspersed so thickly with cane breaks that in many places they . . . — — Map (db m181323) HM
On North Main Street (Kentucky Route 72) at West Central Street, on the left when traveling north on North Main Street.
In 1911, the Wallins Creek Colliers Company opened the first mines in Harlan County for shipping and on August 25th, 1911 shipped the first car of coal from Harlan County. This mine was located on Terry's Fork, near Wallins Creek.
In that . . . — — Map (db m181171) HM
On South 2nd Street at East Central Street, on the left when traveling north on South 2nd Street.
The first industry of any importance to the Harlan people was the logging industry. Harlan's forest has a dense and rich output of poplars, white oaks, pines, maples, walnuts, and several other varieties of timbers of value in the lumber market. For . . . — — Map (db m181325) HM
On East Central Street just east of South 1st Street, on the right when traveling east.
The Louisville ad Nashville railroad extended its railroad into Harlan County which was accomplished in 1910. This marked the beginning of the rapid development of one of the leading coal fields in the United States. Harlan County quickly emerged . . . — — Map (db m181322) HM
On East Central Street at South 1st Street, on the left when traveling west on East Central Street.
Harlan County Men Who Died in Service During World War II
Adams, Cecil L. •
Farley, William R. •
Adams, William •
Farmer, James M. •
Allen, James T. •
Farmer, Robert •
Allen, Sam •
Farnwalt, Walter H. •
Angel, Bertie F. • . . . — — Map (db m181579) WM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the left when traveling west.
In 1933, the wells which supplied the town of Lynch and company mines were not producing enough water. Land was acquired on Lewis Creek in Letcher County for a filtration plant and 20,000 feet of 8 inch pipe was ordered.
During the drought of . . . — — Map (db m121695) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the left when traveling west.
The original structure, which consisted of the concrete bin seen here and an additional 60 foot high steel super structure atop the concrete, was the largest coal tipple in the world when completed in 1930.
The upper steel structure was used . . . — — Map (db m121694) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west.
To build the town and mine support facilities Bog Looney Creek was rerouted and over one mile was walled with local quarried native sandstone.
Among the structures chronicled here, the coal company constructed six miles of concrete paved . . . — — Map (db m121691) HM
On West Main Street (State Highway 160) north of Church Street, on the right when traveling west.
This lamp house was built about the same time as No. 31 Mine Portal. Shortly after it was built, and again during World War II, more than 2000 electric cap lamps were issued to miners each day, flame safety lamps were also issued to each foremen and . . . — — Map (db m121791) HM
On State Highway 6 at S. Reservoir Street, on the left when traveling east on State Highway 6.
Built by U.S. Steel Corp., 1917-25, this was largest company-owned town in Kentucky through World War II. Crucial need for steel during WWI led to founding of town, site of millions of tons of high-quality coal. With largest coal tipple then in . . . — — Map (db m97159) HM
On State Highway 6 east of Pirate Way, on the left when traveling east.
(Side One)
This brick facility was built in 1923 by the United States Coal and Coke Co., then leased to Lynch Colored Common Graded School District. Students from Benham and Lynch enrolled in the high school. The first four graduates . . . — — Map (db m97161) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) at Church Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street.
This building, constructed of native sandstone, as were most of the mine structures, was completed about 1920.
Machine shop personnel served as firemen.
The second story of the firehouse quartered mining company personnel; usually ten to . . . — — Map (db m121789) HM
On West Main Street (State Highway 160) west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west.
This fan moved 50,000 cubic feet of air per minute to ventilate borehole conveyor entries. It replaced a 300,000 CFM Aerodyne fan in 1968, which, in turn, replaced a 150,000 CFM centrifugal fan to ventilate No. 31 Mine when it was in operation. — — Map (db m121792) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) at Church Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street.
(panel 1)
These portals were finished in 1920 while coal was being removed from temporary portals to the west. The main haulage goes straight through the mountain to Lewis Creek in Letcher Co., while an offset continues to Colliers . . . — — Map (db m121687) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west.
On this concrete slab, a mining equipment repair shop was erected in an area that earlier was used as a mine car marshalling yard. The building was moved to No. 32 Mine in 1963, where it became the 5 South Main Bathhouse and Warehouse building. — — Map (db m121692) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the left when traveling west.
This building once housed boiler operated generators which furnished electric power to operate No.'s 30 & 31 mines and support facilities. In addition, it supplied electric power to all homes in Lynch.
Originally four 150 KW D.C. generators were . . . — — Map (db m121693) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) at Church Street, on the left when traveling west on West Main Street.
This railroad depot was finished in 1925. One of the few brick structures in Lynch because the stone quarries were closed by this date.
This was a busy station, serving two passenger trains daily through the forties and then one train a day . . . — — Map (db m121699) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the left when traveling west.
This structure was completed in the early twenties. Because of its location astride Big Looney Creek, it was built of brick instead of native sandstone to reduce the weight.
The restaurant was famous in the region for its foot long hotdogs and . . . — — Map (db m121790) HM
Near State Highway 6 at Pirate Way, on the left when traveling east.
To Honor the Black Coal Miners
and Keep Their Legacy Alive
The Black Coal Miner was recruited by International Harvester and U.S. Steel to work and live in the coal camps of Benham and Lynch. They came in search of a better life, better . . . — — Map (db m97160) HM
On West Main Street (Kentucky Route 160) west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west.
This conveyor, installed in 1968, transported coal at a rate of 500 tons per hour from the Winifrede mine borehole (1800 feet underground in No. 31 mine) to the 2300 ton silo at the tipple.
Three entries in No. 31 mine were rehabilitated in 1968 . . . — — Map (db m121689) HM
Near Black Mountain Ridge Road, 1.7 miles west of Kentucky Route 160 when traveling west.
This plaque is in memory of William Risden
(1914-1994) WW II Veteran
An innovator and devotee of electronic technology, Risden was a pioneer in the cable TV industry credited with building the first cable system in Kentucky.
Taking advantage . . . — — Map (db m121223) HM WM
Near State Highway 510 east of State Highway 221, on the right when traveling east.
Pine Mountain Settlement School – Realizing the need for better education in the area, William Creech donated land for the school. Katherine Pettit, founder of the Hindman Settlement School, and Ethel De Long Zande opened the school in 1913. It . . . — — Map (db m212425) HM
